Ironing table construction



Feb. 11, 1958 H. L. FRICK IRONING TABLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1953 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 11, 1958 H. L. FRICK IRONING TABLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1953 IN V EN T 0R.

A TTOFNEXS.

United States *Patent 9 IRONINGZTABLE CONSTRUCTION Harold L. Frick, Hamilton, hio,-assignor to B'eacee Products Corporatiom l-lamilton," Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 21,1953, SerialhNo. 356,430

7 Claims. (Cl. 138-111) This invention relates to ironing tables, and'more particularly to a table construction including supplemental utility table means.

Although many domestic ironing boards as heretofore constructed have provided a secondary table level to hold long articles which would otherwise drag upon the floor 'when being ironed, it has .beennecessary to provide additional working surfaces in the form of-other tables to retain the articles not immediately being-ironed. Most ironing boards providing such'supplemental utilitytable means integrally therewith have not been adapted to a compact,- collapsible construction.

Itis one of the objects of the present invention to providean ironing board having supplemental tablesurfaces collapsibly attached thereto. 4

Another object is to provide a supplemental utility table:for an ironing board which'is sturdy and rigid, and which may be readily folded for storage and unfolded for: use.

A further object is to provide a supplemental utility table for an ironing board which is hinged to the legs or frame of the ironing board structure, and which may be easily swung to an extended or folded position and rigidly supported or held there.

Theabove and other objects and'advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view'of an ironing table embodying the invention, and showing the supplemental utility table framesthereof in an extended-position of use;

Figure'Z is' aside elevation of 'the ir'oningtable' of Figure 1.

Figure3 is. aperspective-view of the table, showing the supplemental'working tables of my invention in a folded position for storage.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of Figurel showing-the connection between-table 19-and the leg member.

Figure 5 is a view of Figure 3 looking in the direction of arrows 5-5.

Figure 6 is 'a sectional view taken along line 6-6'0f Figure 5.

Referring specifically to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, I have used the reference numerals 10 and 11m indicate a pair of end-supporting structures comprising generally U-shaped leg members supporting the ironing board 12 of an ironingtable construction.- A- secondary table 13, usually'provided in such-constructions to support large items while being ironed; is shown adjacent the'board 12 at'a slightly lower level.- The legmembers 10 and 11 may be formed of pipe" or tubing bent-into the form of'a' U-shaped member having substantially parallel sides and provided with foot members 14 for-stable support"on'thefloor.

A pair of side members 15' and 16 are 'pivotally' connected at the'ends thereof to the leg membersllt" and 11,

opposite legmembers. 10'and 11;

2,822,629 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 thereby forming, an integral. table. supportingstructure. ljatchestlll are. provided to rigidly fix the leg members 10 and..11r in..extended,downward positions relative to. the sidemembers ,15..'and 16, and to permit the legmembers to be swungpivotally to. afoldedposition flat against thejbottom'ofthe ironingboard12 for storage- In the drawing, 1 have illustrated two supplemental utility-table frames 18 and19 hinged, oneeach, tothe Table frame 18.is p votaliy mounted ion the downwardly extending portions of the legmeinb'er 10 by means of pivot and latch members 20. The? members 20 are attached to the pe ripheraledge ofthe table frame at the middle of the sides thereof and are pivotally connected to the leg member 10by pins, as at 21, which .seat in a keyhole slot'in the leg member so as to be readily removable. The members 20 are spring hinged at 22 to the table frame, andare formed with contoured finger projections 23which provide a gripping means to prevent pivotal movement of 'the table frame 18 about the leg member '10 'When'operatively disposedagainst the downwardly extendingportions of the leg member, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. When the members 20 are in gripping contact'with the leg-member, asl-shown, the surface of the table. frame 18 is fixed in a substantially horizontal position torsupport a suitable surface means for receiving articles to be ironed and the like.

Whennot in use, the table, frame 18 may be swung into the planeof' the leg member 10 by pivoting, the latch members 20'Iinwardly against the biasof the spring hinges 22 to release the fingers 23 fromgripping connection with leg member 10. The table frame may then be. swungfreely= about the :pin .connections .or pivots 21 into the plane of the leg member 10, in which position. the latch members 20,,rotated fromthehorizontal'i gripping position, are biased, by the springhinges 22 against the leg member 10. in themanner of a stop latch to fix thetable frame in a foldedposition for storage,vas shown in Figure 3. The table frame 18. is pivotally mounted to the leg member. 10' at substantially the. midpoint thereof, and is slightlyv less thanco-equal in length so as to provideclearance at top and. bottom to permit foldinginto the plane of the leg-member.

The second utility table frame 19-ismounted on.leg member 11 in a different manner from that of table framelS. Whereas about half of theworkingtsurface of 'table frame 18 extends outwardly beyond the:leg member, and ironing board, my novel mounting of table 19, as will hereinafter appear, permits-substantially all of the table working surface to extend beyond'and be un-.

obstructed by the ironing board and supporting. leg member.

The table frame 19 carries a pivot ringmeansr24having a spring clamp construction which projects from the edge of the table frame, and encircles and grips one of the downwardly extending portions-of theleg, member 11. The pivot ring 24 is in the form of a U shaped re leasable support means. The pivot means 24 is secured to-table frame 19 by suitable means such as'screwi 24a to permit pivotal motion of the table frame 19 abouta horizontal axis through thedownwardly extending support leg of the member 11 when fixedrelative thereto, in the manner of the pivotal. movement'of. the table frame 18, and also permits pivotal movement of the table frame 19 in ahorizontal plane by pivoting motion of the means 24 itselfabout the supporting leg of member 11. Leg means2'5 are'pivotally connected to the table framev 19, and may be unfolded to extended vertical positions relative to the table frame 19. in its horizontal position. The leg-means 25 servetto rigidly support the table frame 19 ina'substantially horizontal position to support a suitable surt'acemeans forireceiving'ironed articles and the are,

aaaa When not in use, the legs 25 may be folded flat against the table frame 19, and the table frame pivoted about the support leg into the plane of the leg member 11. A spring clamp 26 is carriedby the edge of the table frame 19 opposite to the pivot ring 24 to engage the other downwardjly extending support leg of member '11 and fix the table 19 in afolded position in the plane of the leg member 11, as shown in Figure 3. The ring 24 and the clamp 26 constitute releasable clamp means for holding the table in the desired operative position. I The mounting construction which I have described in connection with table frame 19 may be arranged to provide a table surface at any convenient'level intermediate the top and bottom of the supporting leg member'll by positioning the pivot ring 24 both at the desired height 'on the leg member 11 and at the predetermined corresponding position along the edge of the table frame, so that when pivoted into a folded position the table frame will have the necessary clearance at top and bottom. Unlike the mounting construction of table frame 18, the use of a single pivot means 24 and supplemental folding support legs 25 permits the design of a table height somewhat above the midpoint of the supporting legs of the ironing table, as shown.

In the arrangement illustrated, I have shown the use of each of my novel table mounting constructions. The

table frame 18 provides a supporting surface for a supplemental utility table at a level approximately intermediate the ironing surface and the floor. Such a table height is of particular convenience to the operator as a place to locate the bulky mass of articles to be ironed. The table frame 19 provides a supporting surface for a supplemen- 'tal utility table at a level substantially above the midpoint between the ironing surface and the floor. Such a higher table height is of particular convenience to the operator as a place to locate the finished articles after ironing.

Conveniently, the table frame 19, when in use in its extended position, may be swung about the supporting leg member 11 by means of the pivot 24 to a position alongside the side member and substantially parallel to a seated operator. In such a position the table surface is located within easy reach of the operator.

In particular, the pivotal and supporting means of my invention provide rigid supplemental table constructions I of simple design which may be easily folded into compact and readily storable units.

Further, the mounting means of my invention permit easy removal of the supplemental tables from the supporting frame when in their open positions. In the case of table frame 18, which is pivotally mounted at both sides by latch members 20 to the leg member 10, the pin and keyhole slot arrangements at 21 provide means for readily removing the table by grasping the latch members and shifting the table to one side so as to allow the table to be lifted and disengaged. In the case of table frame .19, which is pivotally mounted by pivot means 24, the

spring clamp construction of the pivot is such as to permit the table when in its open position to be lifted direct- "1y off of its contact with the leg.

a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being hadfor this purpose to the appended claims.

I claim: a 1. An ironing table comprising a pair of end-support- ,ing structures adapted to support the table, an ironing 'board supported by said end structures, said end struc tures including leg membershing'ed' thereto to told from extended vertical positions to flat positions underlying and substantially parallel to said ironing board, releasable latches to hold the leg members in their extended and their fiat positions, supplemental table means pivotally mounted on at least one of said end structures to fold from an extended horizontal position to a flat position substantially within the plane of said leg members, and a substantially U-shaped releasable clamp support means engaging one of said end-supporting structures and said supplemental means to support said supplemental table means in an extended horizontal position.

2. In an ironing table of the character disclosed, a pair of end-supporting structures adapted to support the table, an ironing board supported'by said end structures, said end structures including leg members hinged thereto to told from extended vertical positions to flat positions underlying and substantially parallel to said ironing board,

said leg members being of generally rectangular outline and having substantially parallel leg portions, releasable latches to hold the leg members in their extended and their fiat positions, supplemental table means pivotally mounted on at least one of said leg members to fold from an extended horizontal position to a fiat position substantially within the plane of one pair of leg members and releasable clamp means connecting said supplemental table means to said last mentioned pair of leg members vto secure said supplemental table means in a fiat position between said parallel leg portions of said leg members, said clamp means constituting at least a portion of the .support for said table means when the latter is in a hori- -ly within the plane of said leg members, said supplemenftal table means being mounted to said legs by a pair of combined pivot and latch members comprising spring biased gripping means engageable with said legs in one position to support said supplementary table means in an extended horizontal position and engageable with said legs in a second position to secure said supplementary 'table means in a flat position between said legs.

4. An ironing table comprising a pair of end-supporting structures adapted to support the table, an ironing board supported by said end structures, said end structures including leg members hinged thereto to fold from extended vertical positions to flat positions underlying and substantially parallel to said ironing board, releasable latches to hold the leg members in their extended and their flat positions, said leg members being of generally rectangular outline, each having substantially parallel legs, supplemental table means and, pivot means connected to said supplemental table means and rotatably mounted on one of said parallel legs, said supplementary table means being rotatable about said pivot means from a flat position, wherein the plane of said supplemental table means is substantially parallel to said legs, to an extended position, wherein the plane of the supplementary table means is substantially horizontal, said supplemen- 'tary table means beingfurther rotatable about said supporting parallelleg from a horizontal position substantially underlying said ironing board to a horizontal position substantially beyond the overlying edge of the ironing 1 board.

5. An ironing table comprising a pair of end-supporting structures adapted to support the table, an ironing board supported bysaid end structures, said-end structures including leg members hinged thereto to fold from.

extended vertical positions to flat positions underlying and substantially parallel to said ironing board, said leg members being of generally rectangular outline, each having substantially parallel legs, releasable latches to hold the leg members in their extended and their flat positions, first supplemental table means pivotally mounted to the parallel legs of one of said end structures to fold from an extended horizontal position to a flat position substantially within the plane of said leg members, said first supplemental table means being mounted to said legs by a pair of combined pivot and latch members comprising spring biased gripping means engageable with said legs in one position to support said first supplemental table means in an extended horizontal position and engageable with said legs in a second position to secure said first supplemental table means in a fiat position between said legs, second supplemental table means and pivot means connected to said supplemental table means and rotatably mounted on one of the parallel legs of the other of said end structures, said second supplemental table means being rotatable about said pivot means from a flat position, wherein the plane of said second supplemental table is substantially parallel to said legs, to an extended position, wherein the plane of the second supplemental table means is substantially horizontal, said second supplemental table means being further rotatable about said supporting parallel leg from a horizontal position substantially underlying said ironing board to a horizontal position substantially beyond the overlying edge of the ironing board.

6. An ironing table comprising a pair of end-supporting structures adapted to support the table, an ironing board supported by said end structures, said end structures including leg members hinged thereto to fold from extended vertical position to flat position underlying and substantially parallel to said ironing board, releasable latches to hold the leg members in their extended and their flat positions, supplemental table means and mounting means including a spring clamp pivotally mounting said supplemental table means directly on at least one of said leg members to fold from an extended horizontal position to a flat position substantially within the plane of one pair of said leg members, said supplemental table means being removably mounted on said leg members by said mounting means.

7. In an ironing table of the character disclosed including an ironing board and a pair of end-supporting structures having leg members fastened thereto, supplemental table means, a ring pivotally mounted on said supplemental table and operatively connected to one of said leg members in an end supporting structure, a spring clamp mounted on said supplemental table means and formed for engagement with another leg member in said last mentioned structure to secure said supplemental table means in a flat position substantially within the plane of said end supporting structure, said supplemental table means being rotatable from said flat position to a horizontal position and being further rotatable in a horizontal plane about said first mentioned leg member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,288,604 Jenkins Dec. 24, 1918 1,450,766 Williams Apr. 3, 1923 1,456,573 Roberts et a1. May 29, 1923 2,196,044 Tyrrell Apr. 2, 1940 2,499,062 Greenberg Feb. 28, 1950 2,531,762 Allan Nov. 28, 1950 2,622,353 Mendelson Dec. 23, 1952 

